SSL certificate, is it important?
An SSL certificate is important. The information you send on the Internet is passed from computer to computer before reaching the destination server. Any computer in between you and that server can see your credit card numbers, usernames and passwords. Also other sensitive information too if it is not encrypted with an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate.
SSL is a standard technology behind establishing an encrypted connection between a web server (host) and a web browser (client). This connection between the two makes sure that all the data passed between them remain private and intrinsic.
So what is HTTPS?
Every day we share our personal information with different websites whether it’s making a purchase or simply logging in. In order to protect the data transfer, a secure connection needs to be created.
That’s when SSL and HTTPS come in.
HTTPS or Secure HTTP is an encryption method that secures the connection between users’ browser and your server. This makes it harder for hackers to eavesdrop on the connection. You’ll see https: in the URL address bar of your browser, often with a little padlock icon.
Each site is issued a unique SSL certificate for identification purposes. If a server is pretending to be on HTTPS, and it’s certificate doesn’t match, then most modern browsers will warn the user from connecting to the site.
Will SSL cost more and slow down my site?
If you have a website, especially one with e-commerce, SSL is a must have. Not only does it keep your customer’s information safe, having SSL on your website also keeps their mind at ease. They will see https in the URL instead of http. You want to make sure that whatever you are sending over the internet is going to the right server.
From January 2017 Google began labelling any website that doesn’t have SSL as “Not secure.” This is because Google decided to treat SSL as a ranking signal. Its role in advancing a business’s reputation has been vital even before it became one of the search ranking factors. This form of security practice may paint a better picture of a company or website. Important in maintaining a stable trustworthy reputation.
With people gradually becoming more aware of online data security and privacy issues, business websites need to raise their standards. In conclusion, in most cases using an SSL certificate should not add noticeable download speed. And, not much extra cost, though even if it does, it’s a small price to pay for a much bigger gain.
